1
6 Fieldays ready to feed farmers’ souls Vol 21 No 22, June 12, 2023
View online at farmersweekly.co.nz
$4.95 Incl GST
Feds calls for policy rollback Neal Wallace
NEWS
F
Politics
EDERATED Farmers wants the next government to rollback multiple policies introduced by the last two administrations. Firing its opening salvo ahead of October’s election, the federation’s 12 policy priorities for the next government include a review of methane targets, forestry rules in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the net carbon zero target, the scrapping of the ute tax, and replacing policies for freshwater and Significant Natural Areas.
The end result is a long list of highly prescriptive and unworkable rules that just slow us down, heap on costs and, for many, suck the joy out of farming. Wayne Langford Federated Farmers Other measures sought include more support for technology and water storage, allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver, devolving more decision-making to local communities, improving the Resource Management Act, building farmer workforce and for
the government to show greater fiscal discipline. Most policy priorities are accompanied by the results of a public opinion poll. Those polls show majority support for measures such as using genetically modified grass, and water storage for irrigation, opposition to a farm emissions levy and limits to forestry offsetting. Acting Feds president Wayne Langford said despite creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating $41 billion in exports, production from the dairy and drystock sector is stagnating and farmland is being converted to pine trees. Succession planning is getting harder as regulation and “obscure policy” create investment barriers. “For the last five years Kiwi farmers have been living through a period of unprecedented regulatory change with a swathe of new requirements for improving water quality, biodiversity and the climate that have taken a real toll on the wellbeing of our rural communities.” While the intent of these policies was admirable, he said, the execution and implementation have been “nothing short of disastrous for farmers”. “The end result is a long list of highly prescriptive and unworkable Continued page 5
Wee coos ramp up the cute factor These shaggy Highland cattle drew plenty of attention and added an element of cuteness to the Temuka sale held late last month.
MARKETS 42
On-farm change taps into top craft beer Lakeman Brewing co-owner James Cooper, left, celebrates winning the Supreme Beer Award at the 2023 New World Beer & Cider Awards, with head brewer Rory Donovan. Cooper and wife Elissa started the brewery on their Taupō farm.
PEOPLE 32 National and ACT claim that HWEN is dead amid growing concerns about delays in the process.
The crop damage was bad enough, but now dust and silt are punishing Tairāwhiti contractors.
A key ingredient in Alzheimer’s medication could come from South Island high-country daffodils.
POLITICS 5
NEWS 9
NEWS 10
We’re online NZ’s most trusted source of daily agricultural news and information is now a website.
farmersweekly.co.nz